Comments on: Pelosi Lays Out Conditions For Automaker Aid

By: janosh

janosh — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:15:29 +0000

This thread is dominated by disappointed Palin voters (nobody voted for McCain). If they’re government employees or retired military they are, by definition, socialists…living on taxes from my labor and enjoying socialized medicine. They have no right to speak negatively of government intervention since they, themselves, like Palin and McCain, live on the government teat.

IMO the Big Three represent terrible influences, as corporations, on American values. They mostly peddle giant costumes, intended to inflate feeble egos…Hummers for example, though they’re not the worst.

They claim they sell what the buyers demand> giant SUVs. Toyota and Nissan follow suit because the Palin voters, the half of America that doesn’t drive Toyota/Honda et al, are such easy marketing targets.

I say we need one or more American equivalents to VW/Saab/MorrisMinor…

…..each of which was developed in response to WWII in one way or another as ways to invigorate struggling economies. One was Nazi, one was Swedish socialist, and one was British whatever…all were advanced engineering and each was crucial.

All were modern, reliable, and economical. All had their countries’ most advanced chassis and engine designs, all had better electrical systems than their countries’ finest luxury cars (VW was better than Mercedes, Morris was better than Rolls).

IMO the Big Three should be butchered back to the Little Three, not allowed to produce giant gas guzzlers, limited by law to 75% vehicle count production of 25mpg IN TOWN cars and pickups.

By: Mark Z

Mark Z — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:55:42 +0000

Great photo of Pelosi with her hand out. Give the government money to save GM? I’d rather buy a new GM car and give the money directly to GM.

By: 2Snowboard

2Snowboard — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:39:31 +0000

jbfalaska “As for Ms. Pelosi, Thank God. A party is now in power that is putting American manufacturing first, middle-class wages first…Thank God the Democrats appear to actually be putting us first”

You apparently have more information on what Pelosi is proposing than I have seen, please explain what in this proposal accomplishes this conclusion? I’m not interested in Democrat Kool-Aid talking points from you and DonC so don’t waste anyone’s time, more of the “what” their bailout would do. Please be specific.

I have never bought a GM product in my life, so I don’t appreciate the fervor you on the left want to spend my $ on a company I have no responsibility for, unless of course you can explain yourself. I was planning on buying a Volt, but frankly GM’s chicken little behavior since it became clear the party of big government was coming to power gives me second thoughts.

By: Peter Sommerfeld

Peter Sommerfeld — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:43:29 +0000

Where the heck is the requirement for getting the bailout, that the unions get shown the door so the automakers actually have a remote chance at being competitive again?

By: hc1124

hc1124 — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:56:00 +0000

Another rising view of the actual historical conduct of GM and other “auto makers”.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/11/16-6

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:09:25 +0000

Since I’m a tax payer in this is my money being used I would only approve a “LOAN” to the American auto industry only on the condition the Unions get their a##es kicked out of there and these employees (including ALL Management) take massive pay cuts. In addition if any of the manufactures fail the government has first rights of the sale of assets to pay back the loan.

By: rickj

rickj — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:02:17 +0000

#68 Joe

“It is not socialism if we help GM and Ford once.”

——————————

Socialism is socialism. That includes the Chrysler bailout.

How much will that one time payment cost? Hundreds of billions. I hope the kids these days are investing in foreign currency.

By: Bob G

Bob G — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:22:49 +0000

It is preposterous to think that GM had anything to do with half of their sales and their ability to get credit drying up overnight.

GM can be blamed for *part* of their long term market share decrease (The government is to blame for the rest, because they have allowed so many advantages for foreign producers). But this financial crisis is due to deregulation and greed in the financial markets. GM did not cause it and should not be made to suffer for it.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:10:03 +0000

These conditions don’t have ANY teeth at all. Nothing will change, and GM will continue to build their gas guzzlers.

The conditions should have been more specific. This won’t be effective at all.

Congress had a lot of leverage for GM to meet certain conditions, and they blew it.

By: Joe

Joe — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:11:13 +0000

It is not socialism if we help GM and Ford once. In case you don’t know, the domestic auto companies woke up about 3 years ago. Because it takes about 4 years to develop a complete new car, they were not able to get their block busting new products out in time….before this economy downturn. I tired of hearing socialism, socialism. We help Chrysler years ago and I never heard anyone calling it socialism. Wake up Americans before you turn around and say “we don’t manufacture anything in this country anymore.” Another point to note, the American auto industry is vital to our national defense. Or do you think we can depend on the foreign countries to provide that? I guess most are worried the bailout will hit them in the wallet, but believe me, it will hit you a lot harder if we don’t.